Folding and delivery mechanism for printing-presses.



o. 635,7l9. Patenfed Oct. 24, I899.

J. L. FIRM FOLDING AND DELIVERY NIEcI-IANIsNI FOR PRINTING PRESSES.

(Application filed Dec. 10, 1896.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheat l.

ATTORNEYS,

THE NORRIS PETERS cc PHoTo-LII'HQ. wAsmNGfcNI u. c.

i m. 6351719, Patented Oct. 24, I I899. .1. FIRM.

FOLDING AND DELIVERY MECHANISM FOR PRINTING P-BESSES.

(Application filed Dec. 10, 1886.)

' I 2.Sheets-Sheet 2. 4 x M i (No Model.)

ATTORNEYS.

NITED STATES PATEN F FIQQ JOSEPH L. FIRM, OF JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO THE GOSS PRINTING PRESS COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

FOLDING AND DELIVERY MECHANISM FOR PRINTING-PRESSES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 635,719, dated October 24, 1899.

Application filed Decem'berlo, 1896. Serial No. 615,119. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH L. FIRM, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of J ersey City, in the county of Hudson and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding and Delivery Mechanism for Printing-Presses, of which the following is a specification.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown sufficient of the mechanism to describe my invention,with the understanding that the same is used in connection with such printing mechanism as is shown in my Patent No. 415,321, dated November 19, 1889.

Figure 1 is an end view in section of atransversely folding and cutting mechanism suitable for making three deliveries for each rotation of the cylinder-carrier H, combined with a longitudinal folding mechanism. Fig. 2 is a side View of the same. Fig. 3 is a view corresponding with Fig. l, but of a mechanism in which successive cuts may be superposed by the carriers Gand H and one delivery be made for every rotation of the carrier I-I. Fig. 4 is a detail of the carriers G and H of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a diagram of the trans- I verse cuts and folds on the longitudinallyfolded webs.

I will first describeFigs. 1 and 2. E and F are driven rollers which receive the webs from the printing mechanism. A is the former of a longitudinal folder, over which the webs pass from the rollers E and F. H is a cylinder-carrier upon which are mounted at intervals of one hundred and twenty degrees the transversely-severing knives 1, 11,and 14,

the holding-pins 2, 12, and 15, and the folding-blades 4, 13, and 16. G is a cylinder or roller cooperating with the carrier H. The circumference of carrier H is a multiple of the circumference of cylinder'G. The cylinder G carries a matrix 3, which cooperates with the severing-knives of carrier H. 5 is a transversely-folding cylinder cooperating with cylinder G. 6 is a guide cooperating with guide 17. I is a carrier holding the grippers 8 and 10. 9 is a delivery-table. In lieu of guide 17 tapes 7 may extend around the cylinder 5 and the carrier I, so that as the folded sheets pass from between cylinders G and 5 they can be guided between tapes 7 and guide 6 onto carrier 1, where they are gripped until delivered on the table 9.

In my mechanism the longitudinal former A, the carrier H, and the cylinder G are combined in the peculiar relationship shown and which I will now describe. The apex of the former is placed close to the periphery of cylinder G and just far enough from the periphery of carrier II to enable the paper passing off of the former A to clear the knives 1, -11,

and 14 until such knives have reached the point at which they cooperate with the matrix 3. Thus the carrier H and cylinder G, which cooperate in transverse folding, are, one or both, made toperform the additional function of cooperating with the former A in longitu dinal folding, enabling me to dispense with the additional folding or gripping rollers or guides heretofore utilized in connection with longitudinal folders. Therefore I am en abled not merely to simplify the mechanism and reduce the number of mechanical parts, but to handle the paper with greater accuracy and certainty by reducing the number of surfaces between which it has to be transferred. Indeed, in all forms of myinvention shown in the drawings the webs in being folded longitudinally and out and folded transversely and delivered require no tapes and from the time they leave the former A until finally folded are continuously in contact either with the surface of the cylinder H or the surface of the cylinder G.

The operation of the construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is as follows: Assuming two webs to be longitudinally folded on the folder A, with the columns printed longitudinally of the webs and with two pages on each side of each web, as the webs B and C pass from the folder-formerA they are longitudinally folded one inside the other between the cylinder G and carrier H. The forward ends of the Webs are secured to the carrier II on the pins 2, and as the folding-blade 4 passesthe opening between cylinders G and 5 it thrusts the paper into that opening, where it is transversely folded, and as the knife 11 passes the cylinder G it transversely cuts the webs in cooperation with the matrix 3 on cylinder G, so as to pro-.

and matrix 3 after it has been thrust into the ately behind the knife 24, also with a foldingopening between cylinders G and 5 by the folding-blade 13. The forward end of the web will again be impaled on pins 15, and cut 3, containing another series of pages from 1 to 8, will be transversely severed by knife 1, in co operation with matrix 3, after it has been thrust into the opening between cylinders G and 5 by the folding-blade 16. The same operation will be repeated on each rotation of the carrier II. In case the product is to contain eight pages two webs will be employed on former A. In case it is to contain six pages one and a half webs will be employed. In case it is to contain ten pages two and a half webs will be employed. In case it is to contain twelve pages three webs will be employed. If it be desired to increase the number of pages above twelve in each cut, it may be done by introducing another longitudinal folding mechanism consisting of the former A and folding-rollers A A at the apex thereof, (shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1,) the web or webs longitudinally folded thereby being run from the rollers A A to the roller G, on which they are associated with the webs B and C, before referred to, after which they will be transversely cut and folded simultaneously with and outside of the webs B and C.

I will next describe Figs. 3, 4, and 5. In this construction the rollers E and F, the former A, the cylinder 5, the guides 6 and 17, the carrier I, and the delivery-table 9 are of the same construction as before and the apex of the former A occupies the same relationship with the cylinder G and carrier-cylinder H as before; but in order to adapt them for superposing successive cuts from the webs received from the former A upon each other the constructions of the cylinder G and carrier II are modified as follows: The cylinder G is enlarged in circumference, so as to rotate only twice for each rotation of the carrier H. The cylinder G is converted into a carrier by being provided with a series of pins 18, projecting through the wall of the cylinder G parallel to and just behind the matrix 3. The

pins 18 pass through openings in the wall of the cylinder G, as shown in Fig. at, and are fixed to a rod 19 in the interior of the cylinder G. This rod is supported so as to slide to and from the center of the cylinder G by guides 20, formed one in each of the heads 23 of the cylinder G, through which heads the rod 19 projects at each end. The pins 18 are yieldingly held in their outward position by springs 22, interposed between the rear of the rod 19 and seats in the heads 23 of the cylinder G.

Then the apparatus is used for superposing, the pinning, cutting, and folding devices (shown in full lines) on the carrier H only are utilized that is to say, the carrier H will be provided with two transversely-cutting knives 24 and 25, diametrically opposite each other and each adapted to cooperate with the matrix 3, also with a series of pins 26, immediblade 27 between the pins 26 and the knife 25. Thus the pins and folding-blade will be in operation only on one semicircumference of the carrier H, the pins 28 and folding-blade 29 on the opposite semicircumference not being in operation.

The operation is as follows: Starting with the pins 18 in the act of pinning the forward end of the Web, as shown in Fig. 3, the forward end'of the web will be held onto the carrier G and carried around that carrier as the longitudinal fold is made between the carriers G and H. When the carrier G has substantially completed one rotation, the knife 2t will have arrived opposite the matrix 3 and cut the web transversely, so as toproduce what I will call for convenience cut 1, (containing pages 1 to 8, inclusive, where two webs B and Care employed.) The forward edge of cut 1 will thus be brought even with the forward edge of the web, one overlying the other, between the carriers G and H. Immediately thereafter the pins 26will impale both the forward edge of the web and the forward edge of the cut 1 and hold them onto the carrier II as it advances until the folding blade 27 comes opposite the opening between cylinder G and cylinder 5, whereupon said folding-blade 27 will thrust the paper into said opening, and the same will be folded transversely. As the paper leaves the carrier II in being transversely folded between the cylinder 5 and carrier G the knife 25 will cut the web transversely, so as to produce what I will term the cut 2, (containing pages 9 to 16, inclusive.) Thus the first out, containing pages 1 to 8, inclusive, will be folded trans versely outside of the second cut, containing pages 9 to 16, inclusive, the transverse fold being made transversely of the columns across the middle of the pages. To prevent the pins 18 from interfering with the actions of the pins 26 before described, it is importantthat the pins 18 should be retracted, so as to let go of the forward edge of cut 1 at or near the instant when the pins 26 impale the same. To this'end I provide on opposite ends of the carrier H cam-surfaces 30 and 31, each of which is adj ustably secured to the carrier H by slotted connections32. These cam-surfaces are so placed that on every other rotation of the carrier G they will strike against the projecting ends of the rod 19 when the pins 18 are approaching the web and hold the pins 18 retracted until after they have passed by the web and the carrier H.

The diagram Fig. 5 will show the succession of cuts and folds. When in the position shown in Fig. 3, the pins 18 pierce the web at a. As the carrier G completes one rotation the knife 24 makes the cut'oa m, the pins 18 are retracted, and the pins 26 pierce the paper both at a and b, the edge as at being then outside of and even with the edge a" 00. Then the folding-blade 27 at one stroke makes the folds at y y and yqj, and theknife 25 makes the succeeding cut at a: x, so as to enable a similar operation to follow.

If it be desired to use the construction shown in Figs. 3 and 4 so as to operate without superposing, the pins 18 may be removed and the pins 28 and folding-blade 29 (shown in dotted lines)-thrown into operation on each rotation of the carrier H. Then the cuts will not be carried around carrier G; but each cut will be folded between the carrier G and roller as it is made.

The driven shafts 33 and 34:, upon which the carriers G and H are respectively fixed,

are mounted in bearings (shown in dotted v lines at 35 and 36) which are adjustable to and from each other, so that the opening between carriers G and H may be varied to suit existing conditions.

the longitudinal folding, transverse cutting,

and transverse folding may be effected and the product delivered without the employment of tapes and that in the construction shown in Figs. 3 and 4 the successive cuts are also superposed.

I am aware that in a patent to Madden, No. 324,034, dated August 11, 1885, a web is shown as passing directly from a distant longitudinal former to a pair of transversely folding and cutting rolls, and I disclaim such a construction. In my construction the apex of the former is at the periphery of one of the. rolls, by which I mean substantially as near to the periphery as practicable without infringing upon the path of mechanism mounted on said rolls.

I claim- 1. In a printing-press folding mechanism, in combination, the cylinder H, a plurality of folding-blades mounted thereon at substantially equal distances apart, a series of pins and a knife also mounted thereon intermediate every two folding -blades, the foldingroller G, the matrix 3 mounted thereon to cooperate with said knives and the cylinder 5 cooperating with said cylinder G and said folding-blades in making the transverse folds; said cylinder H being circumferentially a multiple of cylinder G, and the former A having its apex at the periphery of one of said cylinders, substantially as described.

2. In a folding mechanism for a printingmachine, in combination with the former A, the cylinder H containing afolding-blade and transversely-severing knife, and the cylinder G containing the matrix 3 to cooperate with said knife; the apex of said former being arranged nearer to the periphery of cylinder G than to cylinder I-I,substantially as described, whereby the Web is received on the cylinder G and the knife on cylinder H clears the apex of the former, substantially as described.

3. In combination, the cylinder H, the folding-blade mounted thereon, the cylinder G holding the paper toward said cylinder H as said folding-blade is acting, the former A having its apex at the periphery of one of said cylinders and the cylinder 5 cooperating with said cylinder G and said folding-blade in making the transverse fold, substantially as described.

t. In combination, the cylinder H, the folding-blade and transversely-cutting knife mounted thereon, the cylinder G, the matrix mounted thereon for cooperating wit-h said knife, the former A having its apex at the periphery of one of said cylinders and the cylinder 5 cooperating with said cylinder G and said folding-blade, substantially as described. 5. Asuperposing device consisting, in combination, of a cylinder H, a cylinder G sub; stantially one-half the size of the cylinder H in circumference, a series of pins mounted on cylinder G, two knives mounted on cylinder H at substantially diametrically opposite points, a set of pins mounted on said cylinder H, means whereby the set of pins on cylinder G is rendered inoperative on every other rotation thereof the cylinder 5 cooperating with cylinder G and with blades upon the cylinder H for folding and means where by the web is guided to said cylinders, substantially as described.

6. In combination with a longitudinal folder, the following parts whereby the successive cuts from the web are superposed, viz: a cylinder H, a cylinder G one-half the size thereof,a set of pins and a matrix mounted upon said cylinder G, two knives mounted upon said cylinder H at substantially diametrically opposite points, a set of pins mounted upon said cylinder H and means whereby said set of pins on cylinder .G is rendered inoperative on alternate rotations, and a cylinder 5 cooperating with cylinder G and with blades on cylinder H for folding, substantially as described.

7. A superposing and folding device containing, in combination, a cylinder H, a folding-blade mounted thereon, two knives also mounted thereon at substantially diametrically opposite points, a set of pins also mounted thereon close to one of said knives, a cylinder G substantially one-half the circumference of cylinder H, a matrix mounted thereon to cooperate with said knives, a set of pins also mounted thereon close to said matrix, means whereby said last-named set of pins may be rendered inoperative on every other rotation of the cylinder G, the cylinder 5 cooperating with said folding-blade and said cylinder G in making the transverse fold and means for guiding the web to said cylinders, substantially as described.

JOSEPH L. FIRM.

Witnesses:

M. WILsoN, FRED S. KEMPER. 

